NAACP Recognizes Small Smiles Dental Center of Roanoke with “Citizen of the Year” Award
November 16, 2009 - Roanoke, VA – Small Smiles Dental Centers of Roanoke today announced that it is a recipient of a 2009 “Citizen of the Year Award” for Medicine from the Roanoke Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). The award was presented during the 11th Annual Citizen of the Year Awards program, held in September, as part of a year-long celebration of the national NAACP’s centennial anniversary.
“We are honored to receive this prestigious award from a community that we are proud to serve every day,” said Amanda Dilley of the Roanoke Small Smiles Dental Center. “This award will be an ongoing source of inspiration for us as we work to improve the dental health of children in Roanoke and across Southwest Virginia.”
Established nearly 90 years ago, the Roanoke Branch of the NAACP took a leading role during the 1960s in the desegregation of public schools, local hospitals, restaurants hotels and theaters. The branch today, led by Brenda Hale, continues its mission of economic empowerment, voter education and youth outreach.
“Small Smiles is playing a vital role in protecting the health and well-being of children from among the most vulnerable populations in the area,” said Hale. “We applaud them for their service to the community and consider Small Smiles a partner in empowering young people, for whom professional medical care is an important building block toward ensuring a bright future.”
Small Smiles of Roanoke is part of a national network of associated dental centers that provides high-quality dental care to more the 750,000 low-income children each year. Tooth decay among children has been called a “silent epidemic” by the U.S. Surgeon General, and is twice as prevalent in children from low-income families as it is in children from more affluent households.
“We are committed to the lifelong dental health of Roanoke’s children,” said Dilley, “and we will continue to work to ensure that every child in our community has the smile they deserve.”
Contact:
Amanda Keating
November 16, 2009
(202) 834-3179
